A Legacy left Behind - Initial encounters

Part 3

He disengaged from the Chair the moment he felt the missile go dormant and reclined it to a sitting position. He had been reacting on reflex until that point and as the surrounding glow and the last of the shimmering lights were fading away, he became aware that he had made a bit of a spectacle of himself.

Dr. Carson, Dr. Rodney the Hurricane and five other doctors and a few shell shocked Marines were all staring at him with their mouths half open and eyes bugging out their sockets. He gave them all a sweeping glance from left to right and broke into an abashed lopsided grin.

"The chopper is fine, it didn't crash or anything- The General should be here in about 6 minutes or so. And the missile won't take off again by accident if you want to keep studying it. I made sure of it," he reported to Dr. Carson because he was the only person he had spoken to before. He hoped that the Marines who were still staring at him in shock wouldn't come to their senses and arrest him for trespassing or something.

Dr. Hurricane managed to break away first from his astonishment and started grinning from ear to ear in a disturbing way.

"Of course! This is why it went through all those tantrums to get you here. That was quite good. You think maybe you made a record of it so I can study it frame by frame? Later of course, maybe as a side project." He gushed at John.

"See now I can start on these re-calibrations and run the diagnostics on the side at the same time. Oh yes, maybe get the crazy Czech to upload his maintenance wish list as well." He started clicking his fingers to himself and started to type at light speed on one of his laptops, muttering about the Lists and Schedules.

Carson recovered quickly upon hearing this and came instantly to his patient's defense once again. "Absolutely not, you daft bugger, the lad is still not released for duty and I need to keep him under observation for at least 12 more hours in the infirmary."

"Aye you look a bit pale already lad." The last comment was directed at John and if he was honest, John could feel a slight pressure build up behind his eyes and temples already.

He stood from the Chair and Carson moved to help him on reflex. That was a good thing because John swayed slightly on his feet and the doctor steadied him.

"Hello, Major Sheppard, I'm Dr. Elizabeth Weir. I'm the head of admin here and I would love to speak to you when Carson allows you visitors." John carefully shook the offered hand of the beaming Dr.Weir and replied an affirmative politely.

And then he let himself be herded away by Carson, to the relative safety of the infirmary. where John could hide away from the gleaming eyes and beaming smiles that were pointed at him from everywhere.

He heard one of the Marines finally letting out a loud relieved sigh and announcing that he was going to update McMurdo about the timely averted disaster, before walking away towards a phone mounted on a wall.

Defense Outpost

Antarctica

General O'Neill found himself inside the elevator, slowly grinding downhill to the central command of the Ancient Outpost not quite dead, as yet. He had left his shaken pilot above ground to collect himself and regroup. O'Neill hoped one of the soldiers above would give him a proper meal and may be some Valium. There were a few times that O'Neill had been concerned the kid might just finish the job the alien missile started; by the wobbly way he piloted the bird the rest of the journey. He was going to have to get someone else to chauffeur him back, he sighed to himself.

The elevator door opened down below to reveal the ecstatic and excited frame of Dr. Daniel Jackson. He was beaming from ear to ear and grabbed the General by the shoulder and propelled him along towards the inner building when the General did not move fast enough for him.